Sounds frustrating.

Would you be able to get some extra long tubing so you can leave the bedroom? For the future, could you get some stand-by oxygen tanks for use both at home and on the go? Maybe your doctor could set that up through a local service.

I'm sorry for your problems. I've had pretty consistent frustrating experiences with the customer-facing employees of the DME (durable medical equipment) suppliers I've had to deal with for the 20+ years I've used a CPAP machine. Different stuff but same people in many cases.

The equipment I've gotten, when I've ultimately received it, has always been high quality - my problems have been the morons you have to deal with who work for the suppliers. I suspect the jobs don't pay enough to attract a better quality of employees and because reimbursement rates are fixed by the various insurance contracts and (increasingly) by Medicare, the DME industry is one where tight controls are in place to limit expenses.

I think I've finally found a good one with my most recent switch. At least I hope so. Maybe you can get better service for what you need by dealing with a different company or a different location? Good luck.

That does sound really awful to have to deal with. My mom had copd and I know how hard it was for her with any oxygen issues. As far as your stationary unit, why can't they get you enough tubing that you can just move around your house? Even with a large home, the tubing is so flexible and lightweight, it seems you could get 50-75 ft of it and move around as needed while still plugged in.

I don’t use oxygen in the house unless I’m sick - only at night when I’m sleeping. Good thing as tubing from my bedroom to the library where I watch TV would never work - long house, different floor.

I did tons of research on types of oxygen (concentrated vs liquid) and liquid is virtually unobtainable in my area unless one needs continuous flow at 5 liters or more. Most of the local oxygen companies dropped home oxygen service when Medicare changed their reimbursement policies a few years ago - no profit.

Inogen makes the lightest and that’s what I need. Their quality is lacking. I bought mine directly from them as the other distributors were total flakes with incorrect info. It’s only available online. Most DME is a total ripoff - captive demographic,

DH's company makes parts for medical equipment. The standards and regulations are prohibitive-with good reason. Then you hear this side and it is befuddling. So sorry you can't get decent help. Sadly, that appears to be pretty pervasive in society.

We had to deal with them a couple of years ago....Billing. Their mistakes but we got collection notices. Long story and hot telephone lines, but they finally called off the dogs.

This morning, I plugged in the new battery that was charging last night (it takes forever!) and it held the columns in place so I could use my portable tank to go to rehab. I use liquid oxygen at rehab, provided by them.

Called Inogen when I got home - could not speak with helpful young man from Mon night. He called me back and we worked on the danged thing. What finally made it work was to hit it soundly with the heel of my shoe. That finally got it all the way locked into place. It's like the old thing where one tries all the high tech and then gives the machine a sound kick and it works! I told him that I had tried multiple times the night before and that the instructions kept warning me not to remove the columns or use them for "practice". He said that's because some idiots throw them on the sofa where they become coated in nacho chips and spilled soft drinks and then won't work. In other words, in their attempt to "idiot-proof" the instructions, then completely disregarded the needs of someone who knows better than to treat an expensive machine like that!!!! The "tail wags the dog" so often today.

So, it's finally working and I won't have to deal with replacing columns for at least a year.

As to the delivery - he said Amazon has "spoiled" us by telling us if we order by a particular time, we will receive it at a stated time. He claims they're the "only company" that can do this and that my standards are just too high - that they are "pretty good". I asked him if he'd seen the ATT&T wireless commercial on TV about the surgeon who is "just okay". I told him I felt the same way about Inogen's service - "pretty good" and "just okay" just don't cut it with me. For a $2700 piece of equipment, surely they can be better than "pretty good".

Now I have to get my SIL to come over Sat AM and bring down my stationary concentrator. UPS is delivering me a new one between 2 -6PM and they remove the new one from the box, replace it with mine that is not working properly, and then print out and slap a label on it. I'll then have to try and get someone to haul it back upstairs for me - it's quite heavy and I can't do it anymore.

Thank you so much, mama for your concern. It means a great deal to me. Here you are so very ill and you're thinking about someone else's woes. But that's YOU, mama and it's why we love you very much on GW. Sounds like you've got good oxygen coverage. It varies so much from one area to another. It really depends on whether ones area felt they could make enough profit under the new Medicare guidelines for oxygen. I don't begrudge them their profit - I'm a good capitalist girl - but it sure makes it hard when the demographic just don't allow much choice.